Fire Engines Photos

This is my Dad's fire engine and this weekend I'm going to be doing a fashion shoot using the fire engine (I'm a photography student.) Hope it goes well!

Added by Louise Arnot on 12 February 2007.

Louise, with a prop like this beautiful machine, it couldn't go any other way! Good luck girl, , , ,

Added by Pavel Zaremba on 12 February 2007.

hello louise how are you i am the person responsible for selling your dad the F7 i hope all is well i hope all goes well!!

Added by Jason on 12 February 2007.

What a classic! This is my favourite model of the F-series but as the co-owner of one, I suppose I am a little biased! Not many survive and as the years go by, there are fewer around so it is great to see this one remaining in preservation.

Added by Chris on 27 May 2007.

hi,
Suprised to see "FMO" now residing Scotland? i rode and drove her between 1962-1972 regulary drilling with the 50ft Bailey wheeled escape ladder quiet a beast at 19cwt.Look after the old girl, my old guv'nor would be turning in his grave seeing it used in fashion shoot.

Added by Alan Jones ex Sub O,B R F B on 06 November 2007.

Louise, I for one would (and I'm certain many others) would love to see one or two of your photos taken of the fashion shoot, can't get enough images of this beautifully maintained machine, , , ,

Added by Pavel Zaremba, Western Australia on 06 November 2007.

Of all the Reading Berks motors this is my number 1. My dad rode it whilst at Caversham Rd. So glad to see her looking so good.

Added by Chris on 11 November 2007.

hi my name is gary im a member of the "fire vehicle preservation group, scotland" this vehicle was stored beside a few of ours for a while, we were lucky enough to be at the vehicles while louise was doing the photo shoot.The old machine stood up well.

Added by Gary Melrose on 24 January 2008.

Gary, that's a fabulous update to a great post from Louise, I think even Alan Jones old Guv'nor would have had a wiry grin on his face, , , , Thanks mate!

Added by Pavel - Western Australia on 25 January 2008.

I well remember these machines in service with the Nottingham City Fire Brigade in the 1950's onwards and even then was impressed with the classic lines. Nothing before or since this design has come anywhere near the sheer beauty of these machines. Great respect to you preservationists for the work you do.

Added by Dennis on 09 August 2008.

This Dennis F7 is also in picture 5784 and picture 11837

Added by Pat Rivers-Bowerman on 21 October 2008.

I am writing a book on the History of Berks Fire Brigade and this machine features in it . I have pictures of it in action and the day Reading took it over 1950,could swap pics of it while it is in your hands now. Ex LFB
This is what I call a Fire engine.

Added by Dave Doe on 28 September 2009.

Does anyone know if this is still in good condition as I had heard it was sadly rotting in a field in Mortimer. This was one of the engines my dad drove when he was either at Caversham Road or Newbury.

Added by Jacqui Salazar on 03 July 2016.

The F7 was only produced for a few years, as brigades ended up much preferring the shorter wheelbase F12, which was more maneuverable.

Otherwise they were pretty much identical, and a few F12s were delivered as late as 1958, after the more "modern" F20 series were introduced.

Middlesborough ran an F7 dual purpose as a pump and an F12 as a pump escape. The brigade changed the water tanks on both from the Home Office mandated 100 gallons to increase their capacity.

Because of the longer wheelbase, they managed to fit a 250 gallon tank on the F7 while the F12 maxed out at 200.

These larger tanks meant that they could operate the first aid hose reel(s) for twice as long before opening up a hydrant, which was a big plus factor. The hose reel pump was rated at 35 gpm, so the original tank could be run dry very quickly...

As fire brigades bought post war water tenders with 400 gallon tanks hose reel use became the preferred way if dealing with most fires, because they could be deployed almost instantly, and this led to the emergence of the water tender escape.

These had both a 300 or 400 gallon tank and could carry a 50 foot wheeled escape ladder, although this was normally limited to the steel Merryweather ladder rather than the more old-fashioned all wood ones - which were much heavier.

Added by Rob Johnson on 18 November 2019.

1965 Denis wheel Pump Escape with 45 Foot Handle operated elevator mechanism fabulous M/c

Added by Bill Vallantine X Stockport Mersey Sq Fire Brigade now Greater Manchester Uk on 17 August 2021.

Please add your comments about this picture using the form below.

Comments

Your Name

Your email address - this will be shown on the page and will allow the system to notify you of further comments added to this picture.